Question title

How do you currently use greenways and trails in Johnston County? Select all that apply.

For health and exercise
For recreation
Commute to work and/or school
Run errands and/or reach essential services
I do not use greenways and trails.
Other
Closed to responses

Question title

How frequently do you use greenways and trails in Johnston County?

Daily
A few times a week
A few times a month
A few times a year
Never
Closed to responses

Question title

What activities do you participate in along greenways and trails in Johnston County? Select all that apply.

Walking
Biking
Running/Jogging
Hiking
Dog Walking
Rollerblading/Skating
Nature Viewing/Birding
Activities with Children/Family
Access to Blueways (water activity trailheads/launches for paddling, kayaking, etc.)
I do not use greenways and trails.
Other
Closed to responses

Question title

What factors discourage you from using greenways and trails in Johnston County? Select all that apply.

Lack of safe biking and walking connections to and from existing greenways and trails
Poor maintenance conditions of existing greenways and trails
Unsafe street crossings and intersections
Motor vehicle traffic and/or speed
Lack of signage and wayfinding
Lack of parking at trailheads
Personal safety concerns
Lack of interest
Other
Closed to responses

Question title

How frequently would you use the Smithfield to Benson East Coast Greenway once it is constructed?

Daily
A few times a week
A few times a month
A few times a year
Never
Closed to responses

Question title

What activities would you participate in along the Smithfield to Benson East Coast Greenway once it is constructed? Select all that apply.

Walking
Biking
Running/Jogging
Hiking
Dog Walking
Rollerblading/Skating
Nature Viewing/Birding
Activities with Children/Family
Access to Blueways (water activity trailheads/launches for paddling, kayaking, etc.)
I do not use greenways and trails.
Other
Closed to responses

Question title

On average, how long of a distance would you be willing to travel along the proposed Smithfield to Benson East Coast Greenway as a part of a trip or activity?

A mile or less
2-3 miles
3-5 miles
5-10 miles
10 or more miles
I do not use greenways and trails.
Closed to responses

Question title

Rank your most important routing preferences for the proposed Smithfield to Benson East Coast Greenway? Rank from 1 (most important) to 10 (least important).

Closed to responses

Question title

What is your primary mode of transportation for commuting to work and/or school?

Walking
Bicycling
Transit
Car (Drive Alone)
Carpool
Work from Home
Other
Closed to responses

Question title

Now consider your desired commute in the future. Which modes would you like to use? Select all that apply.

Walking
Bicycling
Transit
Car (Drive Alone)
Carpool
Work from Home
Other
Closed to responses

Question title

What do you think would increase trail usage or bring new users to greenways and trails in Johnston County?

Closed for Comments

Question title

Please provide any additional comments or feedback for the Smithfield to Benson East Coast Greenway Feasibility Study.

Closed for Comments

 

STUDY OVERVIEW

The proposed Smithfield to Benson East Coast Greenway is a 15–17-mile corridor in Johnston County connecting the existing greenway in Smithfield to Benson. The corridor primarily follows US-301 beginning along the Neuse River in Downtown Smithfield at the terminus of the Buffalo Creek Greenway to the Johnston County line, outside of Benson town limits. The Smithfield to Benson East Coast Greenway is a critical missing link in the County’s greenway network and is the proposed corridor for gap segments of the East Coast Greenway and Mountains to Sea Trail.  The Study will also provide cost estimates and an implementation plan to construct the greenway.

 

The project schedule is displayed below. Click to enlarge the image.

ABOUT THE EAST COAST GREENWAY

The East Coast Greenway (ECG) is a 3,000-mile walking and biking route from Maine to Florida that connects major cities, small towns, and parklands along the Eastern Seaboard. In North Carolina, the ECG route passes through the cities of Durham, Raleigh, Fayetteville, and Wilmington and primarily follows the Neuse River and Cape Fear River corridors across the state. The ECG is currently 28% complete. The longest continuous stretch of completed trails is in North Carolina, which is comprised of the 72-mile span of greenways and trails through Durham, Wake and Johnston Counties. The proposed Smithfield to Benson East Coast Greenway corridor aims to expand the connected greenway network via the planned Neuse River Trail extension to over 100 miles in the region, completing the ECG corridor through Johnston County.    

 

ABOUT THE MOUNTAINS-TO-SEA TRAIL

Additionally, portions of this segment have the potential to be co-located with the MST, which is North Carolina’s flagship state trail. The MST stretches 1175 miles from Clingmans Dome on the Tennessee border to Jockey’s Ridge State Park on the coast. The trail in the southeast portion of the state was originally envisioned to follow the Neuse River to New Bern, a route that is still under development. In 2017, a new route, the Coastal Crescent Trail through the Cape Fear Arch and Onslow Bight, two geologic regions considered among the most ecologically significant in North America, was made an official part of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.  Currently, the existing trail is a natural surface footpath and uses connecting roads to complete the route through the diverse natural and historic landscapes and welcoming communities.

STUDY AREA REFERENCE MAPS - MUNICIPALITIES

The maps below provide the proposed study route and existing and proposed bicycle and pedestrian facilities from previous planning efforts for each municipality along the study corridor. The preliminary route shown in the maps below illustrates the general study area and does not reflect the exact route that may be recommended.

Town of Smithfield:

 

Town of Four Oaks:

 

Town of Benson:

POTENTIAL FACILITY TYPES

Potential facilities that will assessed during the Feasibiltiy Study are provided below with corresponding photos and descriptions. 

 

PAVED TRAILS / GREENWAYS / SHARED-USE PATHS: Paved trail surfaces such as asphalt or concrete offer greater accessibility to accommodate users of all ages and abilities. Asphalt pavement tends to be the most popular and cost effective for paved trails. Concrete pavement is more durable, but costs more than asphalt pavement. This facility is typically 10-feet wide. 

 

SIDEPATH: A sidepath is a bidirectional shared-use path adjacent and parallel to a roadway. Sidepaths offer a low-stress experience for bicyclists and pedestrians along network routes with high-speed or high-volume traffic.